Bangladeshi cricketer handed five-year ban for anti-corruption code breaches

Bangladesh’s Shohely Akhter has been banned from all cricket for five years after being found guilty of breaching the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anti-corruption code.

The spinner formally admitted to breaching five provisions of the code.

The breaches related to approaching a Bangladesh player and offering a sum worth just over $26,000 for getting out hit-wicket in a Women’s T20 World Cup match against Australia in 2023.

Akhter made the approach in a series of voice notes sent on Facebook.

The player Akhter communicated with on Facebook reported the 36-year-old to the ICC’s anti-corruption unit.

“The ICC … considers that a period of ineligibility of five years is reasonable and proportionate,” an ICC statement read.

“Ms Akhter has agreed to this sanction.”

Akhter last played for Bangladesh in 2022 and was not part of the squad for the 2023 T20 World Cup held in South Africa.

She has played two one-day internationals and 13 Twenty20Is.

Reuters